Service stall



Aug. 8, 1939. g-5 2,169,183

snmvxcm STALL Filed Sept. 5, 193a 2 sheets-sheet 1 Fig "1 Inventor; Lawrence: Fish Aug. 8, 1939. 2,169,183 7 SERVICE STALL Filed Sept. 3, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 inventor:

Lawrence Fish. 13 M112 W1 W fitter-megs.

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES SEEVIC Lawrence Fish, Minnea one-half to Harry Minn.

PATENT OFFICE E STALL P0118, Minn assignor o! Mlllberg,

' My invention relates to service stalls. It relates more particularly to devices of this character for use where drinks are supplied over a counter to customers. In business places where such transactions take place, it is customary for many of the customers to line up along the front of the counter where they are served by attendants back of thecounter. Other customers sit in booths and are served by waitresses who go to the 10 front of the counter to have the desired orders filled by the attendants. The result of this procedure has been that it is sometimes difilcult for the waitresses to get up to the counter and even when they do, they are sometimes jostled by the customers who stand in front of the counter. An object of this invention therefore is to provide service stalls adapted to be attached in front of the counter and within which the waitresses stand while they are having orders g iiiled. It has been found in practice that customers soon learn to respect the presence of such stalls and leave them free for use by the waitresses. In carrying out the principle of this invention, I provide a service stall which carries means by which it may be readily attached to the counter at any desired place along the front thereof. Of course more than one stall may be used'whenever found desirable.

The novel features which I believe to be char- 39 acteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the application of one form of the device to the front of a counter.

Fig. 2 is a view in central section through one of the suction cups.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another form of the device. 5 Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the last mentioned form showing it applied to a counter.

Fig 5 is a fragmentary view of a slight modiflcation.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another form of the device.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the last mentioned form.

Referring first to the particular construction )shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be understood that d my device is intended for use with a counter having a top 4 and a front wall 5. The service stall is shown applied to the counter in Fig. 1. This device which is preferably of tubular construction comprises a transverse base member I from each end of which a side stall member ll extends upwardly at right angles. From the upper ends of the side members i0, arm members i2 extend rearwardly, the arm members l2 preferably being considerably shorter than the side members l0. From the ends of the arm members i 2, vertical members I extend downwardly. these latter members being considerably shorter than the arm members l2. The construction thus far described constitutes the body portion of the device and as shown may be bent from a single piece of tubing. Suction cups Ii are secured to the lower ends of the vertical members it for engagement with the counter top 4. Associated with the base member 3, there isone or more suction cups l6 similar to the suction cups it As shown there are two of the suction cups it, one of which is secured near one end of the member 8 and the other of which is secured near the other end. Each cup I6 carries a boltiil, the head of which is embedded in the cup. These bolts extend through holes in the two branches of clamps 2!! whose middle portion is expanded so as to encircle the member 8. Now by turning down nuts 22 on the bolts, the cups it may be securely attached to the member I in properly adjusted angularly disposed relation so that the cups IE will fit firmly upon the wall 6. Figs. 3 and 4 show another form of the device in which suction cups for application to the top of the counter only are employed. This form is also preferably of tubular construction bent from a single piece of tubing. It comprises a transverse base member 24 from each end of which an arm member 26 extends forwardly. From the outer ends of the arm members, side stall members 28 extend upwardly, the upper portions of these stall members being curved rearwardly as indicated at 30 and terminating in short vertical members 32. Suction cups 34 are secured to the lower ends of the members 32 for engagement with the counter top 36. As shown the front of the counter a short distance below the top has a ledge 38. The base member 24 is provided with vertical screw threaded openings in which thumb screws 40 work. The upper ends of the screws 40 carry clamping disks 2 while the lower ends have wings 44 secured thereto. In applying this form of the device, it is positioned as shown in Fig. 4 and the thumb screws II are turned firmly into engagement with the ledge SI. 65

The form shown in Fig. 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. 3and 4, the diflerence being that rubber balls 48 are employed instead of suction cups.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a iorm of the device in which no engagement is made with the counter top. In this iorm, there are side stall members each of which is bent from tubing into the shape shown in Fig. 6 to form two spaced curved portions 4| and 5| connected at their upper ends by arcs 52. The lower ends of these stall members are connected by a transverse base member 54 having a number of vertical holes 56. The member 54 preferably consists of a flat bar. As shown in Fig. 7 the lower portions of the stall members are turned inwardly to provide short horizontal portions 58 in which the ends of the bar 54 are secured in suitable manner as by swaging or welding. In applying this form of the device, it is positioned as shown in Fig. 6 and ordinary screws 60 are passed through the holes 56 and turned firmly into the ledge 38.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood in connection with the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings. An effective service stall is provided for the waitress or other person serving customers from in front of the counter. This person stands between the two side stall members while having orders filled at the counter. The side stall memhere may be readily constructed by bending tubing into the desired shape. In the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the device including the transverse base member may be formed from a single piece of tubing. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the two side stall members may be readily connected by the transverse base member in any suitable manner.

I claim:

1. A service stall for use in connection with counters where drinks are served to customers over a counter having a ledge at the upper portion of the front wall thereof, comprising two side members, a horizontal base member connecting the lower portions of said side members and spacing them from each other the proper distance for admitting a waitress between them, screw threaded devices carried by said base member adapted for engagement with the lower portion of said ledge, the upper portions of said side members extending backwardly the proper distance to bring their rear ends to a place above said ledge when the stall is positioned for use at the front of the counter, and suction cups carried by said ends for attachment to the top of said ledge.

2. A service stall for use in connection with counters where drinks are served over a counter to customers, comprising a horizontal base member adapted to be positioned parallel with and in contact with a front portion of the counter, tubular side members extending forwardly and upwardly from the respective ends of said base member and spaced from each other the proper distance for admitting a waitress between them, the upper portions of said side members extend- .ing rearwardly the proper distance to bring their rear ends to a place above the front of the top surface of the counter when the stall is positioned for use at the front of the counter, and

means for firmly securing the stall when thus positioned to the counter.

LAWRENCE FISH. 

